tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post4195911048995150513..comments2024-03-29T07:29:32.276-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Interesting you should askJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-22041265918895432512017-12-08T15:04:22.490-05:002017-12-08T15:04:22.490-05:00I've sometimes recommended agents or editors f...I've sometimes recommended agents or editors for books I critique - but I always make it clear that these are suggestions, I don't know them personally, and don't bother mentioning my name because they wouldn't know me from Jane Yolen (well, maybe they would, but only because they know Jane not me). <br /><br />Sometimes I follow up with the author to see if they came to success. No one has yet, so I must not know as much as I think I do about the agents' and editors' tastes.<br />JEN Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11223454346963493011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-32724845991518510222016-05-07T07:33:52.070-04:002016-05-07T07:33:52.070-04:00This reminds me of acting (yes, I know, everything...This reminds me of acting (yes, I know, everything does) but it's still true.<br /><br />In the beginning you have to audition by the book (what works for most people and is accepted as the standard). If you are successful and start to become known, you begin to learn differences between companies, between directors, what they like and what they don't. You give them what you now know they like and hopefully they hire you. Then you keep giving them what they like and keep working. You don't sing "Tomorrow" to a director with a loaded gun if you want to live to see it. You don't say "I'll give her what she wants this time to get in the door and then do what I want."<br /><br />And then there's that beautiful happenstance where a director you admire comes to a show you have the lead in and offers you a role that's on your dream list. Everyone talks about luck and lightning but it's really about honing your craft, being professional, being prepared. <br /><br />Now I'm off to dream about Lee Child liking one of my books...or better yet writing me in one...and me playing me-not-me in the movie. Now that would be a good time! Unless I get killed. Never mind.CynthiaMchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12175917641033760408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-6985510818194270312016-05-05T23:30:15.281-04:002016-05-05T23:30:15.281-04:00I'm sorry, Amy. That wasn't nice. If you h...I'm sorry, Amy. That wasn't nice. If you have been kid-napped by pirates just type three dots...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-72998592041422567822016-05-05T23:17:25.756-04:002016-05-05T23:17:25.756-04:00Amy Schaefer, you shameful braggart. You get peopl...Amy Schaefer, you shameful braggart. You get people to do your dirty-work for ice cream cones? You must be joking. Please tell me you didn't buy your maps for an ice cream cone. I like jousting with schmarmy but I don't want you to die. You didn't, right? You're not out in the middle of nowhere where oxygen is stored on a skiff, right. Waves not too big? If not, you have been drinking. I swear to god I mean no offense. Yikes. Shape-up or Ship-out, Amy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-57172908248549588752016-05-05T19:42:56.163-04:002016-05-05T19:42:56.163-04:00If you follow Writers Digests' "How I Got...If you follow Writers Digests' "How I Got My Agent" column you'll soon realise there are many paths to landing an agent. I started reading it to learn more about the process; I now read it to keep reminding myself to grab every opportunity that presents itself because you just never know! <br /><br />I've read stories that are traditional (submitted query), but there are just as many that come from recommendations, conference/workshop meetings, pitches, contests... the list is quite long. <br /><br />Write hard, write well and be ready for anything!AJ Blythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04529233142099749005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-69955619945010472872016-05-05T18:57:14.172-04:002016-05-05T18:57:14.172-04:00Julie, yes, I did. I still have a bottle from 1875...Julie, yes, I did. I still have a bottle from 1875. Earl's father came up with the formula during the civil war and Earl started peddling it in the last third of the 1800's. Foul smelling, but still more effective than anything else I've tried.<br /><br />And that's my three and I'm outta here! :)nightsmusichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05984119792540771870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-58343919996838912242016-05-05T18:51:08.359-04:002016-05-05T18:51:08.359-04:00As for getting an agent by a non-traditional route...As for getting an agent by a non-traditional route, i.e.: friend-of-a-friend or other random chance, many of my successes (so far) in the publishing world came about by serendipitous chance. Right now, it seems to be the best method for success. The bad news is, you can't manufacture those kinds of chances. You can only recognise them when they come along and take advantage of them when they do.Her Grace, Heidi, the Duchess of Knealehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17818060864422019573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-60221935282621692402016-05-05T18:50:27.981-04:002016-05-05T18:50:27.981-04:00That said, when it comes to the query letter, it i...That said, when it comes to the query letter, it is best to send it off when you think it's the best it can be.<br /><br />1. If it's the best you can make it, you can't make it any better (even if it needs to be better).<br />2. If you send it, your chances of getting picked up are slim. If you don't send it, your chances of getting picked up are none.<br />3. The <i>only</i> way of determining a query letter is effective is to send it. Send it to ten agents and see if any of them bite.<br />Her Grace, Heidi, the Duchess of Knealehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17818060864422019573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-34623042105527784152016-05-05T18:49:56.077-04:002016-05-05T18:49:56.077-04:00(Dunno about Blue Emu, but His Grace is fond of Go...(Dunno about Blue Emu, but His Grace is fond of Goanna Oil.)<br /><br />Sherry asked about the Pre-Send Query Stagefright: <i>"Does anybody suffer from query hesitation-that fear of actually sending the query you think is ready?"</i><br /><br />Sure. We all fear that, because we are a visionary people. We draft this letter that, potentially, could change the direction of our lives. For a few moments, we look ahead and ponder on what it means should this letter succeed. We hestitate because we realise we haven't thoroughly analysed what we might do should the query letter do its job.<br /><br />And fair enough.<br /><br />BUT... One thing we must realise is that if this letter does bring about change, it won't be an immediate change without time to think. It will come slowly and with enough time for reflection and consideration.<br /><br />AND... It's not like dropping our firstborn off the top of the Sears Tower. Once we are on our merry way, there are plenty of opportunities for us to chicken out if we so wish. So, knowing you have a safety net, go ahead and let the baby go.<br /><br />THEN... there is the fear that our hopes and dreams are awaiting for us just around that query corner. Unless our query letter isn't ready enough to do its job.<br /><br />Welcome to the vale of the Woodland Creature.<br />Her Grace, Heidi, the Duchess of Knealehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17818060864422019573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-35192215933761016822016-05-05T18:16:15.161-04:002016-05-05T18:16:15.161-04:00Snake Oil aside, anyone heard of Blue Emu? I swea...Snake Oil aside, anyone heard of Blue Emu? I swear by it. For sore muscles. It won't get you an agent. Donnaevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026536210749494257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-70803330017254245172016-05-05T17:44:13.468-04:002016-05-05T17:44:13.468-04:00Nightsmusic,
The main ingredient in Sloan's i...Nightsmusic,<br /><br />The main ingredient in Sloan's is *drumroll* capsaicin...chili pepper. The original Clark Stanley's snake oil ingredient. <br /><br />: )<br /><br />Colin and Captain,<br /><br />I'm not arguing with you at all. I'm just pointing out sometimes we need to hear from writers angels did not descend from on high to personally escort their masterpiece to the perfect dream agent. Well, I heard one agent relate a story like that and many times how brilliant he was and is and how the rest of us will have to struggle and fail, but that didn't happen in his case because he was such a genius.<br /><br />Even with him that spurred me on. I did extensive research later due to his inspiring speech. I have some slightly used voodoo books if anyone is interested. Ignore the highlighted parts and notes.<br /><br />Most authors, though, will not only give you good advice, but give you words to hang on to when you feel like your falling into the abyss of despair. We all need to realize writing is hard work even for best-selling authors. The giants walked the same path we're walking.<br /><br />Anyway, I'm out before the Queen banishes me permanently.<br />Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-18879159011573240392016-05-05T17:38:25.320-04:002016-05-05T17:38:25.320-04:00Many years ago, a family friend -a young man just ...Many years ago, a family friend -a young man just starting out on his own - worked in a bank. It wasn't where he wanted to be. It was indoors, for one thing, and he had always longed to be a farmer. But in post-war Europe, you a) took what you could get and b) did what your father told you to. So the young man worked in the bank. But the young man soon discovered that if he bought ice cream for his fellow clerks, those hard-working young women were quite happy to do his work for him while he gazed out the window and dreamed of winter wheat. This worked beautifully until, inevitably, the boss discovered the ice cream-for-work scheme, and our young man was given a brisk handshake and an escort to the door.<br /><br />This third-party query debate reminds me of that story. A writer's job is to write, clearly and effectively. Yes, we would all rather focus on our Real Stories than a query, but you need to be able to explain and entice in a short format, too. YOU need to do that, not someone you hire. Writing a query is useful in the way the 100-word contests are useful - it forces you to pare your work to the bone. Pull out the essentials. Tell the reader (and yourself) what you are really talking about. I hate queries as much as the next girl, but I see their purpose and there is no way on Earth I'm going to hand someone an ice cream to write it for me. Take a genuine referral from a knowledgable party - yes. Give the entire process over to someone else because Idon'wanna - no way. This is my job and I love it. I'll do the writing.Amy Schaeferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17263719891092841767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-41668784729025702902016-05-05T17:19:02.161-04:002016-05-05T17:19:02.161-04:00I’m tempted to recant my former statements after r...I’m tempted to recant my former statements after reading Julie’s brilliant thoughts on the subject, but being the Captain of BS, I’ll just tack those on as a caveat that strengthens my cause.<br /> <br />She’s right, of course. I guess my point is simply there is no set of magic steps that leads to the land of Agented Writers. There are many paths that authors take, all wrought with struggles usually independent and usually quite different from one another. And although I can give you relationship advice that you’ll likely empathize with (mostly the bits about my faults and foils), it probably will do little to help you find a wife/husband, other than to inspire a great deal of confidence, because at least it couldn’t be <i>that</i> bad. ;)<br /> <br />Much can be said about other writers stories. Perhaps it’s the straw that breaks the camels back and ushers you into action. Perhaps it has some lasting impact later on. For me, I read them because I enjoy knowing that there isn’t a perfect way. It’s more fun in my mind to think if the wind wasn’t blowing east and Amazing Author hadn’t been caught up in the latest Buttonwheezer saga, she wouldn’t have bumped into a shark, causing a flurry of papers, and her fantastic manuscript wouldn’t have ended up in sharky waters.<br /> <br />But again, Julie’s right. I surrender, especially at the risk of that bullet. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10279775404794792090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-84568220272872081432016-05-05T17:18:27.507-04:002016-05-05T17:18:27.507-04:00Colin, Carkoon Towers ?
Is there a casino ?
Is t...Colin, Carkoon Towers ?<br /><br />Is there a casino ?<br /><br />Is the owner of the casino a (so called) republican ?<br /><br />I thought so.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-15050530918356264892016-05-05T17:14:04.538-04:002016-05-05T17:14:04.538-04:00Sorry, John--unless Janet deletes this comment, it...Sorry, John--unless Janet deletes this comment, it doesn't. :)<br /><br />Julie: I was being a little melodramatic with my "what do we know?" But honestly, what writers share about querying is a) our personal experience, which is not necessarily going to be YOUR experience, and b) our research. We don't read people's queries as part of our job, nor do we craft submission guidelines, nor do we make any life-changing decisions based on queries people have sent us. The best we can do is offer aid and comfort to our cohorts in the trenches. Or the tank. Pick your metaphor. :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-14912201039461358422016-05-05T17:07:39.464-04:002016-05-05T17:07:39.464-04:00Julie, I'll stick to Sloan's. Tried and tr...Julie, I'll stick to Sloan's. Tried and true all of my life. Snake oil or no, it worked on the horses and it works on me! :)nightsmusichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05984119792540771870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-84321280772629747462016-05-05T16:38:30.856-04:002016-05-05T16:38:30.856-04:00Julie,
You better slow down or Janet's gonna s...Julie,<br />You better slow down or Janet's gonna start charging admission into the comments section. Whatever's the opposite of Carkoon, that's what this place has been today. Start to finish.<br /><br />Well, assuming my comment doesn't finish it.John Frainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01702305890462479118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-22486960733120280662016-05-05T16:27:20.065-04:002016-05-05T16:27:20.065-04:00Nightsmusic,
Oddly enough, genuine Chinese snake ...Nightsmusic,<br /><br />Oddly enough, genuine Chinese snake oil actually is effective on arthritis and inflammation. Cowboy Clark Stanley's snake oil, while he put on an impressive show, didn't actually have any snake oil in it. But it works! Yup, because his magic medicine show patent medicine had red pepper in it.<br /><br />Complements of JW, repository of useless information.Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-50934484059948261432016-05-05T16:12:55.762-04:002016-05-05T16:12:55.762-04:00Captain,
King hasn't had to worry about getti...Captain,<br /><br />King hasn't had to worry about getting an agent for years. However, there are authors who do have good insight into how to get an agent because they've been through it. <br /><br />At Surrey last year, and many conferences, there will be authors who talk about their journey to getting published. The value of this is the experience from the other side of the coin. Agents know how they look at queries. Authors know the trials of getting those novels and queries to the agents to look at.<br /><br />It's a matter of perspective. Ask one women what she wants in a man and she might answer, "A romantic." The next woman might respond, "A bullet."Julie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-36296012745827567132016-05-05T15:50:25.111-04:002016-05-05T15:50:25.111-04:00Sherry, I hate that F-ing send button. Always I ha...Sherry, I hate that F-ing send button. Always I have big regrets two weeks later, when I figure out how to say something 'better.' But at some level the writing will out. Least that's my theory, and I'm sticking to it. <br /><br />On topic, today Writer's Digest's spam generator spit out an advertisement for Authors Discovery (with no apostrophe) whatever that is. Feels suspect. Think I'm going to stick to working on my wip.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02694333358894726440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-12633166610417014932016-05-05T15:38:12.915-04:002016-05-05T15:38:12.915-04:00At my recent Mentor program weekend (you know, the...At my recent Mentor program weekend (you know, the one where I totally ignored the query guidelines and popped the question to my mentor, now my agent) one of the other mentors gave a talk on writing and submitting queries. (Heather Petty, I'm talking about you) Much of what Heather told us came from this very blog, and several times in the handout, read the words FOLLOW THE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES ( which she made us read out loud) <br /><br />The only reason my agent said yes, is that we had been working together for six months and apparently liked both what I am doing as well as my reliability and work ethic, and thinks he may be able to sell it, or he wouldn't have said yes. The other thing he did was offer to read queries from anyone else in the program, and if he was not the right agent for that author, personally put the query in front someone else at the agency, even if they were officially not open to submissions at this time.<br /><br />Not all conferences and learning opportunities are created equal, but with a little bit of research, you can find one that is right for you, that may both help you improve your writing and maybe open some doors for you. For any kid lit writers out there, I totally endorse the Nevada SCBWI mentor program, and would even if I hadn't ended up with an agent. I learned a truck load (I was going to say a shit load, but thought better of it) and met some wonderful writing peeps in the bargain. Plus the barbecue in Virginia City is amazing.<br /><br />Julie and Colin, I would read your grocery lists if there wasn't anything else available to read by you all. Waiting waiting waiting and not at all patiently for Donna's book to arrive.Panda in Chiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14160375490647791433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-64495146522070438362016-05-05T14:49:18.821-04:002016-05-05T14:49:18.821-04:00You're welcome, Claire. If you read between th...You're welcome, Claire. If you read between the lines, Janet does give away quite a bit about her reading and filtering process in those comments.<br /><br />And for Carkoon to seem lovely <i>any</i> time of year, you have to be living in Hell. Literally. I hear Carkoon Towers, the nicest resort spot, is usually visited by a Mr. B. L. Z. Bubb ("Bubba" to the staff) every July. ;)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-44336446424947216102016-05-05T14:47:54.077-04:002016-05-05T14:47:54.077-04:00At the risk of sounding bat shite crazy, what the ...At the risk of sounding bat shite crazy, what the heck does Stephen King know about getting an agent? For that matter, what does any writer know about it? Thinking of Indiana Jones and the Holy Grail, if you chose wisely - you only chose once. And if you didn't? Well I'm not sure if want that advice.<br /><br />Getting an agent is sort of like finding that special someone. Maybe you were friends first. Maybe you weren't. Maybe you met at a bar. But however it happened, giving someone else advice on how to match exactly what you did won't likely have a positive result. <br /><br />The circumstances under which any author got any agent are purely individual to that author. Ask Hugh Howey or EL James and they'll tell you to self publish first. Veronica Roth would say go to a conference and interrupt an agent after they just got done speaking to pitch them (if I remember her story right). <br /><br />Agents are certainly the de facto resource for this info. And you still need timing and maybe a bit of luck or destiny. Any other source is sort of like asking Ross from friends for marital advice. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10279775404794792090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-54791517645027875592016-05-05T14:42:01.655-04:002016-05-05T14:42:01.655-04:00Well, it's been raining a lot here. I hear Car...Well, it's been raining a lot here. I hear Carkoon is lovely this time of year... :)<br /><br />Thanks, Colin - I've been lurking here for a good while and love reading the contest entries and results. I was fascinated by the comment someone posted last week on the process of selecting short stories for an anthology (the 'dog named Fred' post) and would love to find out Janet's approach. But I'm happy to continue to live in un-exiled ignorance!Clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06688291652480357123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-26666405878998530932016-05-05T14:34:38.361-04:002016-05-05T14:34:38.361-04:00There really is no substitute for hard work. Work ...There really is no substitute for hard work. Work hard writing your novel and work hard querying your novel. If you're thinking about taking a shortcut on the road to accomplishing either of those tasks, then you will no doubt be disappointed. Scott Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00293362485142152780noreply@blogger.com